Live Oak Public Libraries recently completed an advanced fiber-optic network in partnership with Comcast Business. The network connects 16 library locations across Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. The internet access is free and open to the public.
The partnership provides Live Oak Public Libraries with a dedicated fiber network that transports data across all locations with a flexible, scalable solution. The service also prepares the libraries for future growth as Comcast’s fiber network can deliver up to 100 gigabits per second.
“Our partnership with Comcast Business increases community connectivity and gives library patrons greater access to technology and online resources,” said Tom Sloan, Library Executive Director. “This means improved online performance with guaranteed bandwidth that is faster, more reliable and more secure.”
“Today’s news marks Comcast’s latest investment in Savannah, as we continue bringing some of the nation’s most advanced technology to support the region’s robust growth,” said Doug Guthrie, Comcast Regional SVP. “We are proud to deliver a solution that can help Live Oak Public Libraries meet the needs of its employees and customers throughout multiple facilities.”
Live Oak Public Libraries has more than 460 public computers and hosts more than 450,000 computer/online sessions each year, in addition to conducting ongoing computer classes and e-resource assistance.
The cost of this project is more than 90 percent subsidized through substantial financial support from the federal E-Rate Program and the Georgia Public Library Service.
Live Oak Public Libraries offers free community resources to all, with or without a library card. In 2018, the library system provided services valued at more than $34 million across Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. Libraries hosted more than 1.2 million patron visits and were open to the public 37,000 hours.
Comcast Business serves schools, businesses, hospitals, and other organizations that require large amounts of bandwidth, are looking to link multiple locations, or that plan to connect their offices to a third-party data center.